This original art artwork is inspired by the remote coastal villages and dramatic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles. Set beneath a clear moonlit sky, the scene imagines a small Highland village overlooking a sheltered bay, with a fishing boat resting quietly on the water.
The stillness of the evening is broken only by the gentle movement of the sea and the wildlife gathered around it. A seal watches from the water as an otter swims nearby, adding a touch of life and natural curiosity to an otherwise peaceful scene.
The artwork isn't intended to represent one particular Scottish village or a specific viewpoint. Instead, it brings together elements of the landscapes I associate with the west coast of Scotland and the Hebrides — small coastal settlements, rugged hills, dark waters and the simple architecture of fishing communities — to create an imagined Highland setting.
Moonlight seemed particularly suited to the atmosphere I wanted to create. The subdued light allows the village and surrounding hills to become silhouettes against the night sky, while the reflections on the water provide just enough illumination to draw the eye towards the boat and the wildlife in the bay.
There is something about the west coast of Scotland that lends itself naturally to this kind of scene. The combination of mountains, sea, wildlife and isolated communities creates a feeling of timelessness, as though very little has changed for generations.
Perhaps the seal and otter have the right idea — quietly enjoying the bay while the rest of us are asleep.
 
Subject: Imagined Scottish Highland Coastal Village
Medium: Pen and monochrome colour pencil
Paper: Acid-free cartridge paper
Image size: 59 × 41 cm
Framed: No
Original: Yes
Certificate of Authentication: Yes
Artist: Graham McKenzie-Smith